Metallic walls tructure



J. A. BoHNsAcK ET AL METALLIC WALL STRUCTURE Jan. 16, 194o.

. Filed June 2,' 1936 al n35-. 0l 8 Il l, f l.l

w n S ?atented Jan. 16, 1940 METAILIC WALL STREET E John A. Bohnsack, Cleveland Heights, and Thomas V. Balch, Shaker Heghts, Ohio, assignors to The lE. F. Hausen Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation oi Ghio Application June 2, 1936, Serial No. $3,126 somme. (ci. issn-.eti

This .invention relates, as indicated, to metallic partitions, but has reference more particularly to partitions of a sound-proof character.

It has heretofore been customary in the manufacture of insulated metal-faced partitions, to adhesively secure the metal facing or plates directly to a soft i'lller of insulating material, as by cementing or gluing under pressure, but dueto temperature changes, the lack of structural strength of such insulating material and buckles which inherein the metal, the adhesion between the metal plates andinsulating material frequently breaks down and such plates become Warped or buckled, with the result that the attractiveness of the par, tition is seriously impaired. Y

To overcome such buckling or warping and maintain the flat outei` surfaces of such partitions, it has been proposed to provide the insulating ller with structural reinforcing members or to l employ a structurally strong or rigid ller, but in both cases the sound insulating characteristics oi the partition are materially lower than in the case where a soft, nonreinforced ller of insulating material is used.

Y It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a partition in which buckling and warping of the panel plates is avoided, without impairment of the sound insulating qualities.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention, to provide a two-faced panel unit, the opposite faces of which are securely supported and maintained in a nat condition, but which are not acoustically connected in any susbtantial degree.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists ofthe means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawing andl the following description setting forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used:

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational Aview o1' a metallic partition embodying the novel features of the invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal crosssectional view of the partition, taken on the line 2,-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a. vertical cross-sectional view of the partition, taken on the line 3 3' of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged view nent. of the partition shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the he partition consists of panel .umts I which are ecured together in spaced relation as by means lf clips 2 which engage the webs o f the verticale panels Ainstead of llanges of which is welded lThe' inner anges of the bars :a minimum application of a fragdrawing, it will be seen that 3 of the adjacent panel umts, the joint between adjacent units being covered by pilasters d.

Each of the panel units consists of spaced plates 5 of steel, which are spaced apart at their Avertical edges as by means of vertically extending strips t cfa molded or compressed insulating material, preferably of a soft nbrous nature, the spacing being such that the plates 5 are engaged by the side flanges 'l of the verticals 3. If desired, metal or wood spacers may be employed forthe spacers of insulating material.

The verticale 3, which are a part of the panel units are secured to the vertical edges thereof by means of horizontally-extending verticallyspaced .tie rods t, a number of such tie rods being provided for each panel unit. i

Each of the metal plates 5i is provided at its rear surface with a series of longitudinally-extending vertically-spaced metal reinforcements 9 and it, each of which comprises a Z-bar, one of the directly to the plate. l@ adjacent the upper and lower edges of the respective plates are almost but not quite in abutment with each other so as to provide in effect a substantially closed panel unit. The inner ilanges of the intermediate bars d of the respective plates are spaced apart as shown in Fig. 3. rlhe space between the panel plates is packed or lled with suitable insulating material li, preferably exploded mica or mineral wool in the form of loose nbre or ll Wads, bats or pads, which provides maximum insulation for sound and heat transmission.

The reinforcements 9 may be secured to the metal plates 5 by welding or soldering. Although box type reinforcements, either Aof the usual or inverted type, may be used instead of Z-bars, it is preferred to use Z-,bars, and preferably Z- bars having as narrow a flange as is practicable in contact with the metal plates so that when the metal plate is flexed during handling or assembly, there is minimum danger of pulling dimples in the metal plates. Since it is essential that the exposed surfaces of the panel plates appear smooth and unblemished, and it is desirable to Aattain this smooth and unblemished appearance with a minimum amount of grinding or filling and of warp-producing heat, it has been found best to spot weld the reinforcements to the plates. .In the spot-welding operations, a large :dat point vis used on the'rposed surface of the plate and a small point on the flanges of the reinforcements and the current is vaccurately controlled by an automatic timing devices thereby producing a strong Weld without blemish on the exposed surfaces of the platee.

desired, the plates 5 may he provided on. their rear or uneaposed surfaces with a coating i2 (Fig. a) ci a material commonly lrnotvn as d1un-d1un, which is a mastic substance carry-- ing an undissolved nbre content and which serves to eliminate any ring in the plates and is also eective in the elimination of rattles. The pilasters l may likewise be coated on their unezposed surfaces with a layer da of dum-dum or a thin layer oi felt may be glued to such unexposed surface for the purpose oi eliminating metallic ring or rattle. Any fillers at ceiling or Walls should also be insulated to have the same soundproong value as the panel units, such insulation, designated as lio, being generally employed in blanket form.

Due to the spacing of the intermediate reinforcing memlsers s from each other, through metallic connection between the plates is avoided at these points and a highly sound-proof parti tion is provided, in which transmitted Vibrations are eliminated or reduced to a minimum. The construction, furthermore, is such as to provide a partition having a high degree of heat insulation, and in which buckling and warping of the panel plates is avoided without impairment of the sound insulating qualities. The reinforcements, further, serve to prevent sagging ofthe insulating material.

A panel of the construction described has unusual resistance to the transmission of sound. Any sound which passes through the central portion of the panel is trapped between the rigid panel plates and its energy is absorbed by repeated reflection through the soft nller material. A piston-like motion of a panel plate on one side of the partition may be caused by the impact of sound waves, but due to the peripheral spacing and insulation of the plates and the insulation, such piston-head motion of the panel plate is not transmitted to the other plate to thus make ,the latter a new source of sound. The verticale and other structural members possess great rigidity in proportion to their exposed area and tests have proven that there is very little leakage through sound transmission at these points.

aisance The partition as a whole, although it Weighs only from eight to has a resistance to sound transmission equal to that oi a Wall of any homogeneous material, such as masonry, weighing fifty pounds per square root.

Other modes oi applying the principle of our invention may be employed instea of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

We, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim. as our invention:

1. A panel unit for partitions, comprising spaced metal plates, means secured to and rendering said plates rigid, strips of insulating material spacing said plates at the vertical edges thereof, channel members embracing said plates at the vertical edges thereof, and in engagement With said strips, and a lllng of loosely compacted heat and sound insulating material between said plates.

2. A panel unit for partitions, comprising spaced metal plates, each having a plurality of vertically-spaced horizontally extending Z-bars secured to the unexposed surfaces of said plates, strips of insulating material spacing said plates at the vertical edges thereof, channel members embracing said plates at the vertical edges thereof, tie-rods interconnecting said channel members, and a loose packing of heat and sound insulating material between said plates.

' 3.' A panel unit for partitions, comprising spaced metal plates, each having a plurality oi vertically-spaced horizontally extending Z-bars secured to the unexposed surfaces of said plates, the bars of one plate being spaced from the bars of the other plate, strips of insulating ma` terial spacing said plates at the vertical edges thereof, channel members having flanges engaging the outer surfaces of the plates adjacent the vertical edges thereof, tie-rods interconnecting said channel members, and a packing of heat and sound insulating material between said plates.

JOHN A. BOHNSACK.

THOMAS V. BALCH.

ten pounds per square foot, 

